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Monday, August 23, 2010
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Bill Clary
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Robey, Shirk earn top dairy awards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Lee Robey family of Logan County won the Kentucky Dairy Production Award and the Proficient Dairy Producer Award, and the Isaac Shirk family of Casey County earned the 2010 Kentucky Dairy Quality Award.

The Shirk and Robey farms were among those honored during the annual Dairy Recognition Dinner Aug. 20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

“Congratulations to all the competitors for this year’s dairy awards,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “These hard-working folks and others like them all over the state produce much of the milk, cheese and other dairy products that we serve to our families every day. I salute Kentucky’s dairy industry for its contribution to Kentucky’s economy and to our way of life.”

The Kentucky Dairy Quality Award is judged on industry quality standards and farm inspections. The Shirk farm received a monetary award and a farm-gate sign. Other finalists were Eddie Gibson of Kenton County and the Weaver Dairy of Christian County.

The Robey farm took top prize in the Kentucky Dairy Production Award – All Herds competition with a rolling herd average (the average weight of milk a herd produces in one year) of more than 27,000 pounds. Top Herd Production – Mixed Herd was won by the University of Kentucky Coldstream Dairy managed by Joey Clark. The Proficient Dairy Producer Award, also won by the Robey farm, is given on the basis of several factors as recorded by the Dairy Herd Improvement Association.

District winners for the production award were Steven Weaver, Christian County; Elkins Dairy, Warren County; Brian Peden, Barren County; Fowler Branstetter Farm, Metcalfe County; David Corbin, Taylor County; Steve Young, Clinton County; Larry Baxter, Mercer County; University of Kentucky Coldstream Farm, Fayette County; Justin Carmichael, Mason County; Eddie Klingenfus, Shelby County; Tri-Mast, Marion County; and Longview Farms, Grayson County. The production awards were sponsored by the Kentucky Dairy Development Council and Kentucky Farm Bureau.

The third annual Kentucky Quality Milk Hauler Award went to Myron Caudill of Brodhead. Nominees were evaluated on activities that have contributed to the quality of their work and the positive image that they portray for the dairy industry.

The outstanding Kentucky dairy products exhibitor at the Kentucky State Fair was Southern Belle Dairy of Somerset. The outstanding overall exhibitor was Purity Dairy of Nashville.

The Milk Safety Branch presented Outstanding Dairy Producer Awards to Mike Patton of Laurel County, Corbin Brothers of Taylor County, and Bryan Peake of Taylor County.

The Dairy Promotion Award went to George Heersche of the University of Kentucky. The Culinary Sweepstakes Award winner was Rita Wooldridge of Louisville. The Dairy Service Award went to Steve Trauth.

More than 180 dairy producers and industry representatives from throughout the Commonwealth attended the dinner, which honors the individuals and groups that produce, process and promote Kentucky’s high-quality dairy products. The dinner and awards were sponsored in part by individual dairy plants and cooperatives, the Dairy Products Association of Kentucky, the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Southeast United Dairy Industry Association and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

 

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